Wilner was found stabbed in her Flower Mound living room, a black cloth over her face, two kitchen knives nearby. Her son, Eric Michael Wilner, 31, is accused of stabbing her after arguing over their drug use. Her husband, a college professor, reportedly slept through the attack.

Police say the little girl who loved animal crackers and Minnie Mouse was suffocated with duct tape by her father’s fiancée, Melinda Lynn Muniz. The 25-year-old was in the middle of a break-up with Grace’s father when she allegedly concocted a story about an intruder attacking her and Grace. But police say Muniz bought duct tape earlier that day.

Williams had just picked up two of her five children at a McKinney daycare when police say her estranged husband, Cedric McFail, 33, shot her as she sat in her car. Two of her children were in the back seat. The couple had no documented abuse history, but Williams had filed for divorce a few months earlier. She would have turned 36 the next day.

Initial details about the Frisco boy’s death were disturbing: his mother kept his body on ice in a bathtub for several days, and police say 38-year-old Pallavi Dhawan nodded when asked if she killed her son. She and her husband deny that, but her husband did say Arnav suffered from health problems, and that his wife tried to follow Hindu custom by keeping the body intact until he returned to town from a business trip.

Woods had lived with his girlfriend for several years and was like a stepfather to her sons. But when the couple confronted the girlfriend’s father about stolen food, police say Scott Randall High shot Woods. Records show High, 55, had a history of violence with his ex-wife.

Garcia and boyfriend Juan Mario Hernandez, 59, dated about a year and had no documented history of domestic violence. But after arguing at a pool hall, police said Hernandez left, returned with a gun and shot Garcia.

Pitofsky never reported domestic abuse during her marriage to Nick Pitofsky, 47, but she had recently reduced her social media time to counteract her husband’s increasing jealousy. “Now, I won’t get blamed for stupid insecurities,” she told a friend. Nick Pitofsky was a Crandall police officer who apparently shot her in their home in Dallas’ Cedars neighborhood.

Causey, a forward for Wilmer-Hutchins, hoped to play college basketball. But he died after being severely beaten outside the southeast Oak Cliff home he shared with several boys, including a cousin and his family. Police say Causey was assaulted by fellow resident Johnathan Tramaine Turner, a Madison High School basketball player, after an argument over a video game.

Henderson and girlfriend Shevelle Yolanda Lampkin, 50, had recently broken up after dating for five months, police said. When Henderson refused to leave her Dallas apartment one night, Lampkin called police. By the time officers arrived, Henderson was dead. “He ran into my knife,” she told police.

Status: Lampkin was "no billed" by a grand jury after showing evidence of self defense.

Police say Thomas was stabbed by his sister, Khyla Nichole Thomas, 22, after an argument at the Irving apartment they shared with their mother. The siblings worked together at a Whataburger, where co-workers said they got along well. Witnesses said Khyla stabbed Khamran after he “tried to get to Khyla.”

Jones died after her longtime companion, Robert Preston Coleman, allegedly stabbed her in the chest at their South Dallas apartment. Coleman, 71, told police Jones attacked him with a cane during an argument, so Coleman, who uses a wheelchair, grabbed a knife and stabbed her. He had previously obtained a protective order against Jones.

Status: No charges have been filed; the case is to be referred to a grand jury.

Masin and Picchiotti were shot at Masin’s home in Murphy, because of what authorities called a love triangle. Masin had previously dated Michelle Boyer, 45, who was close friends with Picchiotti. Boyer apparently was upset Masin was dating her friend, police said.

Police say Smith was gunned down in his Old East Dallas apartment by his girlfriend’s ex, Rodney Eugene Smith, 48. The woman told police that Rodney Smith had threatened to shoot her new boyfriend. Less than an hour later, Roderick Smith was dead. The two men were not related.

Status: Rodney Smith was charged with murder; no trial date.

June 2: Marquis Johnson, 1

Marquis Johnson’s mother, Claudia, told police her live-in boyfriend, Clezel Montague Mughni, 27, took the toddler into the bathroom for “discipline” June 1. The next day she called paramedics when her son didn’t wake up. An autopsy showed the boy suffered a skull fracture, multiple old and new rib fractures, liver damage, slit intestines, two black eyes and multiple injuries to the legs, buttocks and arms. Johnson told police Mughni, who weighs 325 pounds, punched the little boy 30 times in two months.

Child Protective Services said Mughni had several previous neglect allegations against him with an ex-girlfriend’s children.

Status: Mughni was charged with injury to a child; no trial date. Johnson was charged with injury to a child, allegedly for failing to stop the abuse; no trial date.

McClain, a chief petty officer in the Navy, had recently broken up with his girlfriend, college student Amanda Roxanne Todhunter, 29. After she moved out, police say she used her key to let herself in and then shot McClain.

Police had been to the home twice before, for a family violence call and a welfare check.